By Roger Miksad, President & Executive Director of Battery Council International
Originally posted as an opinion article for the Washington Times on April 28, 2025.
When Americans think about batteries, their minds often jump to mobile phones, electric vehicles, and foreign manufacturing giants. But the true cornerstone of America’s energy storage dominance is the lead-based battery made in manufacturing towns across the country that has been quietly humming along under the hood of our cars for over a century. Smart investments in energy storage must build on that existing strength.
The domestic lead battery industry — powering everything from the car in your driveway to the backup systems protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure — represents not just America’s energy legacy but the foundation of our energy future. As President Donald Trump focuses on rebuilding American manufacturing strength, no industry offers a better template for success than our homegrown battery sector: already employing tens of thousands of Americans and producing most of the lead batteries sold here each year with unparalleled supply chain security and generating billions in economic activity while supporting energy independence.
Rather than gambling exclusively on newcomers, policymakers should recognize and support our established battery infrastructure as the bedrock upon which to build America’s energy storage future. And here’s how:
- Maintain Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Provision – Ensure the existing Section 45 provision remains in place as a tool for domestic battery manufacturers to protect and grow their operations.
- Remove Tax Penalties for Domestic Battery Production – Eliminate punitive excise taxes on strategic battery raw materials to support domestic battery manufacturing by passing the USA Batteries Act (H.R. 1264, Meuser).
- Support Public-Private Research Partnerships – Programs between BCI members and our National Laboratories help spur innovation and growth in domestic battery technologies, including research and development.
America’s incumbent battery manufacturers are innovation powerhouses with deep manufacturing expertise, cutting-edge research capabilities, and unmatched supply chain knowledge. These companies have driven battery excellence for more than a century.
This established battery ecosystem isn’t a historical anecdote; it’s America’s competitive advantage in the global race for energy storage dominance.
Hard economic data confirms that batteries are the backbone of American economic resilience. According to a 2025 study, our industry generated a staggering $35 billion in economic output in 2023 alone. But the direct economic impact is only the tip of the iceberg: nearly one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy — approximately $8.1 trillion in economic output — depends on batteries to deliver reliable power every day because batteries serve a core role in starting engines, powering forklifts, running datacenters, and other uses.
This isn’t just about producing batteries, it’s about energizing communities across America through quality jobs and regional economic stability.
The battery workforce represents American manufacturing at its finest: 28,300 Americans are directly employed in manufacturing, recycling, mining, transportation, distribution, and service roles. These are more than jobs — they’re careers with family-sustaining wages that outpace national averages.
The battery industry’s success story demonstrates what’s possible when private enterprise, technological innovation, and resource efficiency work in harmony. As we confront growing global supply chain challenges and aggressive competition from China, America’s battery manufacturers and recyclers stand ready to power our nation forward, just as we have for the past 125 years.
As global competition for resources intensifies, we must strengthen our domestic battery manufacturing and recycling capabilities through expanded capacity. President Trump’s industrial policies recognize this fundamental reality. Reinforcing our domestic battery industry will further protect America from supply disruptions, price manipulation, and the geopolitical schemes of adversary nations.
Congress and the administration should recognize the strategic advantage of building upon our existing battery manufacturing base as they chart America’s energy and transportation future, rather than attempting to create an entirely new industry from scratch. The expertise, infrastructure, and workforce already exist within America’s established battery companies.
With appropriate support from Congress, these same companies that have successfully powered America for over a century can and will lead the next generation of energy storage innovation.
Roger Miksad is President & Executive Director of Battery Council International
